The BJP stalwart's 72-hour fast under "Sadbhavna Mission'' coincides with his 62nd birthday. The venue, Gujarat University Convention Centre here - where a host of leaders from the BJP and its key ally Shiromani Akali Dal have arrived - has been put under strict vigil by the police.

On the eve of fast, Modi had issued a statement that was interpreted as his first sign of regret over the 2002 post-Godhra communal violence.

"Constitution of India is supreme for us. As a Chief Minister of the state, pain of anybody in the state is my pain. (Delivering) Justice to everyone is the duty of the state," Modi had said yesterday.

Modi, in an attempt to reach out to the minority community, had said the state has realised that communal frenzy and casteism never helped anybody grow in the country and expressed "gratitude" to those who pointed out his mistakes in the last 10 years.